Apple CEO Tim Cook's attendance at a private screening of the documentary "Melania" hours after a US Border Patrol officer gunned down Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti has sparked outrage among Apple employees.
Internal Slack logs reviewed by The Intercept reveal a chorus of reactions, including dozens of vomiting emojis and comments expressing disgust and anger towards Cook's decision to attend the event without publicly condemning the violence perpetrated by Customs and Border Protection agents. The backlash is unusual at Apple, which has historically avoided the kind of political rancor that has swept rivals like Google and Microsoft.
The controversy highlights the tension between Cook's professed commitment to progressive values and his cozy relationship with the Trump administration. Many workers feel that Cook's silence on immigration-related violence is hypocritical, particularly given Apple's recent announcement of Black History Month Apple Watch bands. One employee commented sarcastically, "But but but…. we changed the Apple website to MLK last Monday, so that cancels out."
Cook has a history of embracing Trump and his policies, including presenting him with an engraved golden trophy and giving money to the White House to help construct a $300 million pet project ballroom. The CEO's friendly relationship with the White House has led some workers to question whether he is willing to stand up for human rights and morals.
The crisis within Apple has sparked internal debate on whether Cook should issue a statement, publicly or privately, condemning violence perpetrated by Customs and Border Protection agents. Some employees feel that his silence speaks volumes about the company's priorities and values. As one worker put it, "This isn’t leadership. This is an absence of leadership."
Cook has since issued a public statement expressing his sadness over Pretti's death and emphasizing the importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect regardless of their background. However, many workers remain skeptical, pointing out that the company's silence on similar issues in the past suggests a lack of urgency and commitment to human rights.
The crisis within Apple highlights the challenges faced by tech companies in navigating complex issues related to politics, power, and social responsibility.
Internal Slack logs reviewed by The Intercept reveal a chorus of reactions, including dozens of vomiting emojis and comments expressing disgust and anger towards Cook's decision to attend the event without publicly condemning the violence perpetrated by Customs and Border Protection agents. The backlash is unusual at Apple, which has historically avoided the kind of political rancor that has swept rivals like Google and Microsoft.
The controversy highlights the tension between Cook's professed commitment to progressive values and his cozy relationship with the Trump administration. Many workers feel that Cook's silence on immigration-related violence is hypocritical, particularly given Apple's recent announcement of Black History Month Apple Watch bands. One employee commented sarcastically, "But but but…. we changed the Apple website to MLK last Monday, so that cancels out."
Cook has a history of embracing Trump and his policies, including presenting him with an engraved golden trophy and giving money to the White House to help construct a $300 million pet project ballroom. The CEO's friendly relationship with the White House has led some workers to question whether he is willing to stand up for human rights and morals.
The crisis within Apple has sparked internal debate on whether Cook should issue a statement, publicly or privately, condemning violence perpetrated by Customs and Border Protection agents. Some employees feel that his silence speaks volumes about the company's priorities and values. As one worker put it, "This isn’t leadership. This is an absence of leadership."
Cook has since issued a public statement expressing his sadness over Pretti's death and emphasizing the importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect regardless of their background. However, many workers remain skeptical, pointing out that the company's silence on similar issues in the past suggests a lack of urgency and commitment to human rights.
The crisis within Apple highlights the challenges faced by tech companies in navigating complex issues related to politics, power, and social responsibility.
I gotta say, this whole thing is super wild 
... Like, on one hand, you feel for Cook's attempt to reach out with a statement after such a tragic event 
. But at the same time, it's like, what did he expect? This was just gonna be a PR move 
... I mean, Apple's all about that progressive image 
, but at the end of the day, they're still a big business with a lot to lose 
.
Like, they drop a bunch of new Black History Month merch and suddenly Cook's all "I'm so passionate about social justice" 
... Meanwhile, his cozy relationship with the Trump administration is still there lurking in the background 
.
. Can they be a symbol of progress or just another company trying to cash in on the feels? 
Maybe this whole debacle will be a wake-up call for them 
... But until then, I'll be over here questioning their true motives 
.
he's always been super quiet about all these human rights stuff but now that it's on his doorstep, he's suddenly speaking out? I don't trust him at all 
it's like they're saying "oh, we care about human rights as long as it doesn't affect our bottom line" 
. It's just so convenient to suddenly care about human rights when it suits them (or in this case, gets some good PR). I need a source on that statement from Pretti's family or something before I believe it 
. It's like, what even is the point of celebrating some documentary when there's actual violence happening? And not just saying something, but actually showing up to a fancy event without condemning it publicly... that's just messed up 
.
... I get that Tim Cook is just tryin' to do what's right, but it feels like he missed the mark here 
. Apple's always been about bein' a good corporate citizen, and when you're makin' that much money, you gotta use your platform for more than just celebratin' Black History Month 
. It's not just about puttin' out a statement or changin' some website stuff... it's about takin' a real stand on human rights issues 
.
.
. Apple's all about being progressive, but now they're caught in this mess and can't figure out how to get out of it 
.
. You're trying to be this corporate superhero, but it's clear you're not willing to take a stand when it matters most.